`Welcome' today
`Malaysia Boleh' (Malaysia can-do) is current. It is the watchword for this nation of 22 million on the eve of the official opening of the 16th Commonwealth Games as the country wrangles with political brawls and financial tangles. Their pride is apparent as the the `KL-98' are the first to be held in an Asian country and the biggest with 6000 participants in 15 disciplines.

Akram refutes
Pakistan cricket star Wasim Akram today denied renewed match-fixing and bribery allegations and termed it a `conspiracy' against him and country's cricket. "I am really shocked and disappointed. Until and unless I am not cross-examined (in court) no one can defame me like this," Akram told AFP by telephone from England.

Rani's hat-trick
India rode on a brilliant first-half hat-trick by centre-forward Pritam Rani Thakran to rout lowly Jamaica 4-0 to make a brilliant start in their opening Pool `A' match in women's hockey at the Commonwealth Games today.

India win
Indian women stayed on course for a collision with Scotland for a place in the semi-finals from Pool B of the women's badminton competition in the Commonwealth Games here. Following up on their creditable win over Wales, the Indian women blanked Sri Lanka 5-0, but the match was tougher than expected.